RF to RCA demodulator, not RF MODULATOR!

Warrior_Rocker · Post by **Warrior_Rocker** » Sat May 07, 2005 7:03 pm

OK, for my new n64p i was considering having it be able to tune tv channels directly on the unit itself, instead of having it connected to a vcr, i know they make demodulators to tune tv channels for rca, but im looking for a small inexpensive one?, anyone know any options?, any help is greatly appreciated

NOTE IM NOT LOOKING FOR A RF MODULATOR
it needs to convert a RF input to RCA output
not the other way around...

nos_slived · Post by **nos_slived** » Sat May 07, 2005 7:38 pm

Get a cheap VCR, and tear out the demodulator.
I know that I have seen them before, but can't remember where. If I find them, I will let you know.

Warrior_Rocker · Post by **Warrior_Rocker** » Sun May 08, 2005 7:26 am

i put a lot of thought into that, but how on earth would you hack up its demodulator and make it change channels?

SgtBowhack · Post by **SgtBowhack** » Mon May 09, 2005 2:30 am

That is the problem, isn't it. I can't guarantee very good tuning, but I believe this is done with a potentiometer on one of the pins to give the tuner some sort of signal to tell it what frequency to tune in. This is why old TVs and little portable TVs often have dials to change the channels. They're made to snap to the proper frequencies though... which you could do in theory but making sure it's set up properly is difficult.

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Mon May 09, 2005 4:37 pm

I've only seen buy-able standalone demodulators for channel 3 and 4, designed to let you play an old RF based console on a monitor that only takes composite. Hmm... I've seen add-on tuners for certain displays/portable DVD players, maybe one of those could be hackable to be used on other screens. Now I can't find those...

can't guarantee very good tuning, but I believe this is done with a potentiometer on one of the pins to give the tuner some sort of signal to tell it what frequency to tune in.

Variable capacitor, on the older TVs, actually. Digital tuners work a bit differently though, a PLC drives the tuner, and it doesn't look easily hackable. (search for schematic TV tuner onGoogle for more info)

SgtBowhack · Post by **SgtBowhack** » Tue May 10, 2005 2:52 am

There ya go. Sorry, I'm not 100% up on TV tuners... basically just know vaguely how they work. Might be a cool idea though...
One question I have is, why don't you just use a portable TV? It already has a tuner. Yeah, the video quality might not be quite as good, but depending on how you hook it up it'd probably save you loads of hassle.

Warrior_Rocker · Post by **Warrior_Rocker** » Tue May 10, 2005 4:20 pm

becuase most portable tv's have really small screens, that would have a horrible resolution if you actually tried to play a n64 game, 5 inches at least is mandatory...

nos_slived · Post by **nos_slived** » Tue May 10, 2005 6:24 pm

So then, replace the screen.

Warrior_Rocker · Post by **Warrior_Rocker** » Tue May 10, 2005 7:11 pm

are you even serious, show me where someone has replaced the screen on a portable tv

nos_slived · Post by **nos_slived** » Tue May 10, 2005 7:24 pm

They usually use either RGB or composite, so it is easy enough.

Warrior_Rocker · Post by **Warrior_Rocker** » Tue May 10, 2005 7:40 pm

umm... now thats just confusing, becuase what ive seen a lot of portable tv's use a single board, and dont have video output, only video input, so, i dont see how either an rgb or composite hack would help, and manually driving an lcd would be near impossible, since no bare lcd takes straight composite or rgb as its input, they all use a driver board to convert that for the lcd